On Sunday, we joined forces with Oxford Conservation Volunteers for a lovely day of Spring sunshine (and showers) at one of our green spaces Heyford Meadow. 

Heyford Meadow is a thriving mosaic of wetland, meadow, and woodland, and thanks to the generosity of John Tait and the support of the Challis family, has been in OPT’s care since 2006. After a major clean-up involving the removal of over 250 tonnes of waste (including tractors, rail wagons and even six boats!), the site has been transformed into a vital sanctuary for wildlife.

With a bumper turnout of volunteers, the site was alive with activity and energy from the start. A wide range of tasks were tackled throughout the day, giving everyone the opportunity to get involved, learn new skills, and contribute to the care of this ecologically diverse landscape. 

The day’s efforts focused on both habitat management and wildlife support. In the wet and marshy areas, teams set about scything and raking back the resurgent reed, helping to maintain open areas and improve biodiversity by allowing a greater variety of plant and animal species to thrive.

Another team took on the satisfying task of "popping" young willow saplings, using specialist tools to dig and lever out their roots to prevent them from overtaking more delicate wetland species.

Meanwhile, two major projects were underway to provide long-term shelter for wildlife. One group set to work on the construction of a bird-hide screen, sawing down medium willows to create upright stakes and weaving flexible withy branches between them, a beautiful example of traditional craftsmanship using natural materials found on-site.

Another group built an otter holt close to the river. Designed to support one of Britain’s most elusive mammals, otter holts provide artificial shelter, particularly important in areas where natural holts are limited. The structure was carefully created using upright logs and posts, forming inner and outer chambers, with board to cover the top. The entire holt was then covered in a thick layer of scrub and natural debris to ensure it blends into the environment and offers a safe, secluded spot for otters to shelter and, hopefully, raise young in the future.

The environmental benefits of this kind of work are wide-ranging. Providing man-made habitats helps encourage species to move into protected areas like Heyford Meadow, supporting existing populations and giving wildlife the resources they need to thrive. These seasonal tasks are carefully planned outside of nesting season to ensure no species are disturbed during construction.

The day was not only a huge success in terms of the work achieved, but also a wonderful example of community collaboration and engagement with nature. We’d like to extend a special thanks to Oxford Conservation Volunteers for their expertise and partnership.